|
Compassion, not Criminalization in Immigration Reform!
"The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God" (Leviticus 19:34).
Last December, the House of Representatives passed the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005 (H.R. 4437). Many of the provisions of this punitive and enforcement-focused bill are patently hostile to the alien among us.
On March 27, however, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved an improved bill. The measure, passed 12-6, contains many provisions supported by the faith community and other advocates: It provides a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants currently in the country; establishes a guest worker program that can lead to citizenship; and establishes a new temporary work program for undocumented agricultural workers. In addition, the committee's bill differs from H.R. 4437 in that it would not establish penalties for humanitarian and church groups helping undocumented immigrants or criminalize undocumented immigrants for being in the U.S. The Senate bill is a step forward in the debate.
The full Senate approved this legislation, with some amendments, at the end of May. Currently, the House of Representatives has begun holding hearings around the country on immigration issues, but has not moved towards finalizing its legislation with House legislation, which is needed for the bill to become law.
Unfortunately, much of the immigration debate is being dominated now by anti-immigrant rhetoric. Please write to your senators and representative and tell them that you support Comprehensive Immigration Reform that will reunite families, provide a path to citizenship and allow churches and communities to do their work without being criminalized for helping immigrants in need.
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Compassion not Criminalization in Immigration Reform
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
I am writing to express my concern for immigrants in this country and the churches, community organizations, and civic institutions that help them. The House of Representatives passed the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act (H.R. 4437) in December, and in May, the Senate approved an immigration bill that would provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who have been in the country for more than two years and create a guest worker program (S. 2611).
The House of Representatives bill, if enacted into law, would expand the definition of smuggling so broadly that anyone who aids undocumented immigrants, even in providing basic services, could be legally prosecuted. This law penalizes many faith-based organizations that provide direct services to those in need. In contrast, the Senate bill would help reunite separated families, allow hard working immigrants who are part of our country's economy to come out of the shadows and create a path to citizenship.
As a person of faith, I urge you to pursue compassion instead of criminalization. I hope you will reject punitive measures that harm immigrants and those who help them. Immigration reform should provide a path to citizenship for hard-working undocumented immigrants - not merely create a permanent subclass of guest workers.
As the House and Senate prepare to conference, I ask you to support the positive measures for citizenship and work in the Senate bill and oppose the criminalization elements in the House of Representatives bill. Such an approach to comprehensive immigration reform will help unite families, reward work, and create opportunities for all. Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to hearing your response to this matter.
Sincerely,
|
Campaign Launched:
March 15, 2006
|
"I was a stranger and you welcomed me," (Matthew 25:35).
Immigration is a deeply relevant issue for both Americans and Christians. The U.S. is a nation of immigrants, one that has been continually reshaped by new groups of people bringing diverse cultures, perspectives, and resources. Immigration is also a core issue for Christians: the biblical story continually shows God's concern for the migrant and the outcast. The early Hebrews were "strangers in the land of Egypt" and were asked to remember this heritage by protecting the strangers among them in the promised land. Similarly, throughout the New Testament, Christians are called to care for the outcast and the stranger.
The U.S. desperately needs to heed the biblical imperative to care for the stranger. Since the mid-‘90s, when the government established operations in San Diego, El Paso, and Arizona increasing fencing and border security, more than 2,500 people have died of dehydration and exhaustion crossing the desert into the U.S. In addition, thousands of immigrants who do make it into the U.S. are treated inhumanely by an increasingly militarized border security system of police, fences, and jails.
A common misconception exists that immigrants use up national resources. However, immigrants actually contribute $1,800 more on average in annual taxes than they receive in benefits, according to a 1997 study by the National Academy of Sciences. Immigrants pay local taxes through work, purchases, and housing, as well as direct federal taxes. Young immigrant workers contribute to Social Security through payroll taxes. Immigration is also key to a vital economy; in the U.S. immigrants add about $10 billion annually to the U.S. economy. Immigrants to the U.S., documented and undocumented, contribute a great deal to our national economy and government.
"The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God." (Leviticus 19:34)
Links to organizations and resources providing more information on immigration reform:
National Immigration Forum: www.immigrationforum.org
National Council of La Raza: www.nclr.org
American Friends Service Committee: www.afsc.org/immigrants-rights/learn/default.htm
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops: www.usccb.org/mrs/stranger.shtml
No More Deaths Campaign: www.nomoredeaths.org
Latin America Working Group: www.lawg.org
New American Opportunity Campaign: www.cirnow.org
Mennonite Central Committee Washington Office: www.mcc.org/us/washington
Justice For Immigrants Campaign: www.justiceforimmigrants.org
World Relief: http://www.wr.org/gettinginvolved/advocacy/view.asp?id=80024022
Studies on U.S. Immigration:
National Academy of Sciences: http://fermat.nap.edu/catalog/5779.html
U.S. Department of Labor: http://www.nupr.neu.edu/11-02/immigration.PDF
|
